A shadow hangs over the galaxy in Warhammer 40,000, the shadow of the Hive Fleets. Codex: Tyranids is making its way inexorably towards fans, presumably to devour them – or at least their hobby time.
We’ve already seen the Synaptic Imperative rule, and now we’re moving on from brains to gene-spliced brawn as we take a look at the most enormous beasts the Tyranids can bring to battle. There are fundamental changes to the latest evolutions of these biomorphic fiends from the old versions you once knew.
Every big bug in the army is improving, but we’re going to take a look at two of the biggest winners in a codex that is absolutely packed with more grisly gargantuans than you shake a bonesword at.
First up, it’s the old workhorse* of the Tyranid hive fleet, the trusty Carnifex. These rugged and adaptable beasties can support a whole host of biomorphs and weapons, such as stranglethorn talons, scything talons, and deathspitters.
Every one of them is a living battering ram designed to inflict maximum carnage whilst soaking up heavy firepower. To that end, they have evolved improved movement, weapon skill, wound, and save characteristics in the new codex.
These vanguard organisms now get into combat faster and stick around longer – something that should put fear into commanders who think they know how to deal with a Carnifex brood.
On top of those four attacks, their scything talons now grant an additional attack each time they fight, so a classic four-talon loadout will attack eight times, with AP -3 attacks that do 3 damage each.
Carnifexes have even inherited the rock-hard chitin exoskeletons that the Hive Fleet experimented with in the recent Crusher Stampedes, granting them damage reduction. We can imagine the Hive Mind cackling in its multitudinous voices as it pushes a Synaptic Imperative over the swarm, making them even more formidable.
Carnifexes aren’t the only colossal creatures getting juiced up by the Hive Fleet. Maleceptors have also received upgrades, including a pip of extra movement and toughness, more wounds, and improved ballistic and weapon skill.**
This makes it easier to plunge one into the thick of the action, which is even more valuable thanks to the new Synaptic Imperatives, especially since this particular synapse node doubles up as a giant psychic shotgun.
This is far from everything the Hive Fleets have up their chitinous sleeves for their titanic terrors, but you’ll have to wait for Codex: Tyranids reap the benefits of the Hive Fleet’s evolutons. Keep checking on the Warhammer Community site as we delve even deeper into the unknowable machinations of the Hive Mind.
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* If horses had six limbs and could vomit bio-plasma.
** The save characteristic remains the same because their brains are still on the outside, probably for cooling reasons.